What I love about this system is that it is practically invisible (especially if you close the cover on the screen).

I try to update my site's Journal with my plans on a regular basis.
I hope my site makes it easy for the next poor schmuck that tries to do this!
Feel free to email me if you have any questions or comments.

Originally posted by SiGmA_X Nice. I'm with Mach about, gotta hate you for that What's your 0-100 on it?

Sorry if my site is acting up. Verizon's service is acting screwy on me today!

Thanks guys!
I don't mind the hate, I know it's really love!

My 0-100?
The coolest thing is that I am working on it.
The Z has a built in 7-function display.
(in the photos it is the left most peekaboo on the top of the console).
There are controls for it right beside the head unit.
MPH, MPG, Miles-Till-Empty, Temp, Stopwatch, Tire PSI, Rev Limit.
Once I get OBDII working (a good month or two away...I'm budgeting) I plan to find a way to integrate the PC with these controls so that it can stop and start the stopwatch however I want.
Lap time (via a "HotLap" LED/Laser pickup)? You got it!
0-100? You got it!
Would you like to know how you could have optimized your last power curve? You got it!

I've been wearing a big grin on my face for the past few weeks that I've had my PC working.

Thanks for the comments.
It is no where near as functional as many of the other cool PCs I have seen on this site, but the idea is for us to all learn from each other and improve each other's CarPC.
Feel free to take my knowledge and run with it...just don't take my car!

How bright is the factory screen? All of the factory nav screen I've seen are really bright. I mean day time direct sunlight viewable. Changing to Xenarc's dim screen might not be a good idea. Since you got the factory LCd screen torn apart, why not just add your touch screen overlay? I gotta give it to you, you're pretty brave modding the factory LCD screen. You just saved $1000 doing it yourself. One more thing though, dont get the Delorme GPS receiver. Get Rand Mcnally receiver with serial to USB converter instead. It'll work with the best in car nav software the Copilot. As with OBD-II you should search for more options. The ones you've listed only reads the standard OBD-II. You probably be able to find one that works with the Z's standard OBD-II and the Nissan's propriatary dianostic functions. It'll probably allows you to program the car's ECU for more horse power or for better economy.

NEW complete and updated My project with 100+ pics on 7-4-03
If you have a Shuttle FV24 motherboard in perfect working condition for sale, please PM me.

The screen is very bright, but the quality is pretty bad.
There is no VGA input so I ideally needed a VGA to RGBS scan converter.
I could not find anything small that runs on DC and outputs RGBS of decent quality for less than $1K.
I REFUSE TO PAY MORE FOR MY VIDEO SIGNAL CONVERSION THAN I DID FOR MY ENTIRE PC!

And then I found out that no one makes a Composite/S-Video to RGBS converter (again, it must be small and run on DC).
Seriously, think about it, what's the point of converting Composite/S-Video to RGBS?

Thus I wimped out and am using the GEX TV Tuner as a Composite to RGBS converter.
The quality is pretty bad (to me), thus the reason I am interested in the Xenarc.
The TV itself is pretty cool, but quite distracting, and very illegal (to the letter of the law).

I was under the impression that the new Xenarc (USB version) is brighter than their previous 7" VGA screen.
Is it still too dim?
As you can see from the photos, the screen is pretty well shaded, so perhaps it won't be an issue.
Several people on the Z boards (www.my350z.com) are using the Xenarc,but I don't have any personal testimony from them.

Also, notice the large border around the screen.
Something in my M90000's video output driver puts that there EVERY OTHER time I start the car.
If it is not there then the screen is TOO big, and I cannot see the "close" X in the upper right corner.
Yet another reason I want the Xenarc.

Thanks for your input CPROAUDIO!
In my opinion your project is without doubt the most impressive one on this board, and I aspire to make mine half as cool!
I am new to the GPS and OBDII stuff, so I [obviously] still have quite a bit of research to do.
If you have any specific suggestions feel free to email me, or just mention them here for everyone else to see.

Originally posted by SiGmA_X Yeah, it is love not hate.. We all love your car What's your 0-100!?

persistent, aren't you
I honestly have not timed the 0-60 or 0-100 times.
I've been specifically avoiding any "official" numbers until I get the OBDII working so that I can dyno the car.

The high end stock Z has a 0-60 of 5.5s.
My car is a little heavier, so I would guess 6s.
However, just today in fact I had a nice run at a red light and got up to 100mph in what felt like no time.
Perhaps tomorrow I'll make the same run and time it this time!

The Z is by no means a super sports car.
You would NOT be blown away by its timings.
A BMZ M3 would smoke me, as will a WRX STI or Mitsu Evo.
But then again the Z is better looking than any of those!

I do plan to eventually add in a supercharger, which would put the car over 350hp.
THEN we'll talk about performance!
No ETA on when I'll get around to this $4500+ mod!
I want to finish up the PC and Stereo mods before I start doing things that void the drivetrain's warrantee.

Anyone remember the drag scene in The Fast And The Furious where the dude pulls out his laptop and checks his car's perf?
That'll be me one day!